New Delhi, May 2: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu highlighted the significant transformation in the northeastern region over the past decade. Speaking at the Isaac Centre for Public Policy (ICPP) Growth Conference 2026, he stated that what was once viewed through the lens of insurgency, underdevelopment, and isolation is now emerging as a major driver of India’s development narrative.
Khandu credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for placing the northeastern states at the center of the country’s development agenda. He noted that continuous policy focus, infrastructure expansion, and improved connectivity have reshaped the economic and social landscape of the region.
He emphasized the importance of regular visits by central ministers and senior officials to the northeast, which have played a crucial role in identifying grassroots issues and ensuring timely solutions, thereby accelerating development.
Describing Arunachal Pradesh as one of the most beautiful and strategically important states in India, Khandu pointed out that it is not only the largest state in the northeast but also the easternmost and northernmost state. He provided a brief historical perspective on the state’s development, which includes becoming a Union Territory in 1972 from the North Eastern Frontier Agency (NEFA) and eventually attaining full statehood in 1987.
Khandu also highlighted the state’s rich cultural diversity, comprising 26 major tribes and over a hundred sub-tribes, noting that Hindi serves as an important link language uniting various communities.
Focusing on the vast natural and economic potential of Arunachal Pradesh, he referred to the state as “India’s powerhouse” in hydropower production. He shared that hydropower projects with a total capacity of nearly 19,000 megawatts are currently at various stages of development, with a long-term goal of achieving 40,000 megawatts by 2047, significantly contributing to the vision of a developed India.
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